By Wendy Magagula

Eswatini journalists covering Incwala forced to wear traditional attire.

BY WENDY MAGAGULA 

Swaziland News,12th January 2023

LOBAMBA: Eswatini journalists who were covering Mswati’s Incwala ritual ceremony on Tuesday were forced to wear a traditional attire as part of their accreditation conditions.

Journalist Themba Zwane and other scribes from the State controlled newspapers were seen clad in their traditional attires, however, even journalists were not allowed to enter Sibaya with their cellphones.

“We were forced to wear a traditional attire, that’s why I didn’t attend,” said one journalist working for the State controlled media. 

Reached for comments on Wednesday, King’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane said as the King’s Office, they didn't handle accreditation for journalists, he referred comments to the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT).

“Journalists are accredited by the Ministry of ICT through the  Department of Information and Media Development.Kindly take it up with the Directorate there or the Principal Secretary(Mr Phesheya Dube).We don't handle accreditation and we would therefore be irrelevant in enforcing or suggesting conditions for it,”said the King’s Spokesperson when responding to questions from this Swaziland News.

A questionnaire was sent to Phesheya Dube,the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of ICT, however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

Journalists in eSwatini are restricted from criticizing Mswati and his royal family, some are members of Mswati’s regiments(emabutfo).